CenturyLink builds next generation IP core network with Alcatel-Lucent

MONROE, La. and PARIS, Oct. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- CenturyLink, Inc. (NYSE: CTL) and Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris andNYSE: ALU) today announced that CenturyLink, the third largest telecommunications company in the U.S., has deployed the 7950 Extensible Routing System (XRS) to meet the growing data and video demands from its customer base across the United States. With the introduction of the 7950 XRS core router in its IP core network, CenturyLink obtains an end-to-end managed IP/MPLS network.

The 7950 XRS provides CenturyLink with increased speed and capacity, allowing the company to scale its network and provide services to its customers that support their growing broadband needs, including 1 gigabit service which was recently made available to residential and business customers in 16 cities. CenturyLink's IP network also has a direct connection into its 57 worldwide data centers and provides customers with voice and data solutions, managed IT services, colocation, managed hosting and private and public cloud offerings.

"As a global leader in cloud infrastructure and hosted IT solutions, we are focused on ensuring we have the speed and capacity to meet the data demands of our customers," said James Feger, vice president, CenturyLink network strategy and development. "This new platform is flexible and supports our IP networking needs as we continue to grow and transform our network."

Core routers direct data traffic at the heart of an IP network, and a single 7950 XRS can forward 16 terabits of data per second while consuming only 1 watt per gigabit switching capacity today, and is expected to consume even less in the future. The switching capacity, port density and power efficiency of the 7950 XRS platforms yield operational cost savings by minimizing requirements for physical footprint and power consumption.

"The industry-leading capacity, efficiency and service features of the 7950 XRS will help provide CenturyLink with the core routing platform needed to meet its growing IP traffic demand for years to come, while keeping operating costs in check," said Charles Marsh, president of Alcatel-Lucent's Americas region. "This deployment further validates The Shift Plan Alcatel-Lucent created and our focus on IP Networking as one of the key areas of specialization." 

For more information on the 7950 Extensible Routing System visit http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/products/7950-extensible-routing-system.

About CenturyLink                                                               
CenturyLink is the third largest telecommunications company in the United States and is recognized as a leader in the network services market by technology industry analyst firms. The company is a global leader in cloud infrastructure and hosted IT solutions for enterprise customers. CenturyLink provides data, voice and managed services in local, national and select international markets through its high-quality advanced fiber optic network and multiple data centers for businesses and consumers. The company also offers advanced entertainment services under the CenturyLink^® Prism^TM TV and DIRECTV brands. Headquartered in Monroe, La., CenturyLink is an S&P 500 company and is included among the Fortune 500 list of America's largest corporations. For more information, visit www.centurylink.com.

About Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris andNYSE: ALU)
We are at the forefront of global communications, providing products and innovations in IP and cloud networking, as well as ultra-broadband fixed and wireless access to service providers and their customers, and to enterprises and institutions throughout the world. Underpinning us in driving the industrial transformation from voice telephony to high-speed digital delivery of data, video and information is Bell Labs, an integral part of the Group and one of the world's foremost technology research institutes, responsible for countless breakthroughs that have shaped the networking and communications industry. Our innovations have resulted in our Group being recognized by Thomson Reuters as a Top 100 Global Innovator, as well as being named by MIT Technology Review as amongst 2012's Top 50 "World's Most Innovative Companies". We have also been recognized for innovation in sustainability, being named Industry Group Leader in the Technology Hardware & Equipment sector in the 2014 Dow Jones Sustainability Indices review, for making global communications more sustainable, affordable and accessible, all in pursuit of the Group's mission to realize the potential of a connected world.

With revenues of Euro 14.4 billion in 2013, Alcatel-Lucent is listed on the Paris and New York stock exchanges (Euronext andNYSE: ALU). The company is incorporated in France and headquartered in Paris.

For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com, read the latest posts on the Alcatel-Lucent blog http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/blog and follow the Company on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Alcatel_Lucent.

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SOURCE CenturyLink, Inc.

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http://www.centurytel.com